It was… awesome. I lost my one and only match to a very good player, but the opportunity to compete and the actual time on the mats was pretty wonderful. Here are the top 10 things I learned:

1. Find a way to warm up: This was pretty difficult for me and it cost me in my match. I should have done some jogging, found some space to roll around with my training partner, worked up a lather and heart rate before my match. But I didn’t. There just wasn’t a ton of space to be had in the bullpen and I found myself jumping around here and there, doing some swim drills, stretching and restretching; none of this prepared me for the adrenaline dump on the mat. In the future, I need to do a better job of getting warm before my name is called.

2. Bring an extra gi: Remember how I was crazy excited about my new Origin gi? Well, the pants ended up being illegal due to the embroidery on the calf, as it was within 15 cm to the bottom cuff. Luckily, a friend had an extra pair of white gi pants that he wasn’t using, so I changed into those. I ended up calling Pete Roberts, the owner of Origin, and explained what happened at tournament. Part of me thought he’d exchange the pants because this gi was made for competition and Pete does a good job of making himself available to his consumers. He was thankful for the call, upset that I nearly got disqualified, but took no action otherwise. I still love rolling in my Origin gi, but loathed hand-disembroidering the language on that calf. Where it used to read “(logo) ORIGIN” it now just reads “(logo)” so that I can compete in the gi I spent $200 on…. Next time, I’ll be bringing two gis with me to comp.

Jiu-Jitsu Legend "Punished" at 2012 WorldsVideo, Facebook and MORE!

From the MAT!

Andre Galvão jumps the fence today at the IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Worlds 2012 to get in the face of a referee during the final featherweight purple belt match between Denilson Bischiliari (Atos JJ) and Marcio Andre Barbosa (NU).

Jumping the fence that separates the fights from the audience is strictly forbidden and Galvão is "punished" by the IBJJF and can not fight in his category and absolute on Saturday and Sunday. Security asked Galvo and Bruno Frazatto, who managed to jump the fence as well, to leave the tournament. READ More BJJ >>

We have all heard the same BJJ rise-to-fame story. It usually consists of the same formulated components. Against the odds, rising through the grueling ranks. Competing in a multitude of tournaments and rising victorious countless times. The story usually stars a captivating human being who is Personality-rich, genuine and down-to-earth.

For Beneil Dariush, the components are the same but with heavy emphasis on the last detail. Beneil (Benny) began training three days after his 18th birthday. Training under Bruno (Mamute) Paulista at Ralph Gracie Anaheim, CA since the day it opened, Benny earned his brown belt in just three years, along the way winning multiple prestigious events which include: White Belt World Champion, Blue Belt Pan Am Champion, Blue Belt World Silver Medal, Purple Belt Pan Am Silver Medal (absolute), Purple Belt World Silver Medal, Brown Belt Pan Am Bronze, and Blue-Brown No Gi World Champion.

{enclose Mike_Fowler.m4v} Mike Fowler and BJJ Legends get a look into the argument and drama behind Fowler's loss at the 2010 Pan Ams.. Bad Ref-ing? Did Mike Tap? Do Competitors deserve a higher quality of referee if they pay, some, a thousand or more dollars in total expense.

IBJJF Falling Short?

In an emotionally expressive rant on Facebook, Andre Galvao multiple IBJJF world and ADCC champion, expresses his distress from experiences at the 2012 Pan Jiu-Jitsu tournament.

According to Galvao, the IBJJF only had one referee per match where three should be expected. Referees work all day managing the matches under a lot of pressure and scruitiny. The referees are often one of the most talked about items on the IBJJF events. The points assigned and calls, often in the past its been widely understood that the decisions are often weighted or political. The IBJJF has tried to counter that notion by establishing schooling and seminars for their referees. Assembling a structured program and education, however the idea still prevails amongst competitors.